Recording method



April 7, 1965 N. A. NELSON 3,181,164

RECORDING METHOD Filed Dec. 26, 1961 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 TAPE sumo SUPPORTl l I TANK RECORDING MECHANISM TAPE DRUM HOUSING INVENTOR.

NORMAN A NELSON ATTORNEY.

April 1965 N. A. NELSON 3,181,164

RECORDING METHOD Filed D60. 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 SEVEN STEP :a H 25J a can SLEEVE n CLOCK 60 '1 23 rmmsa DAMPEN:R\ a; g ass 85 sPmNs I 12 rI v 3o 67 1 6e a H "1 ,1! I H o q W32 v 2 3r 1 1 1;; i W 2E 1 7 .1 as asi I T CHART nus 28 i if 1 3! MARKER Assr-maLYqo a0 34 k I z I I 5| 47 2622 FIG. 2.

NAMMER CHART OUTLINE wzscm' gs: 7o

DAMPENER SPRING ASSEMBLY L CAM SET DIAL TAPPEBTIARM 96 HAMMER WEIGHT 632| DAMPENER SPRING 69 BAR l DHPENER SPRING V HANUER LINK Runs: 79 l1*... 67 upper s ams 1 B2 cLocx 74 6o Pusu ROD 8O O 75 E cm FOLLOWER L oV 65 L b V er I I 63 TAPPET Arm cm FOLLOWER 8| 6 5 INVENTOR 6o NORMANA.NELSON,

FIG. 7. 7 BY i Apnl 27, 1965 N. A. NELSON 3,131,154

RECORDING METHOD Filed Dec. 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A (SUNDAY)RECORDING TANK GAGE FEETOINCHES LEASE NK NO IGNED Bl (WEDNESDAY)INVENTOR. NORMAN A- NELSON,

ATTORNEY.

April 1965 N. A. NELSON 3,181,164

RECORDING METHOD Filed Dec. 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DAY DETECTOR FORTANK GAGE CHART FIG- II. X 72 6. 0. WW1:- R

I. MOUNTCHART ZJIOTATE TO MATCH PUNCH "ARK WITH THE APPROPRIATE PUNCTUREAN BLADE cuT SATU RDAY WEDNESDAY FRWAY THURSDAY INVENTOR.

NORMAN A. NELSON, UMQM/ Mmpzu- ATTORNEY.

FIG.|

United States Patent 3,181,164 RECORDING METHOD Norman A. Nelson, SouthHouston, Tex., assignor, by

The present invention concerns method and apparatus for automaticallyand accurately recording conditions, factors or variable events such asliquid levels, fluid pressures, temperatures, etc., and in particularthe recording of such events on a circular chart in a manner such thatthe circumference and radius of the chart, together, determine themagnitude of the event. In addition, this invention includes a techniqueand means for identifying each instantaneously, sequentially recordedevent.

Essentially the recorder comprises two principal mechanisms: (l) arotatable chart having on its face concentric circles and radial linesdividing the chart into segments and a marker assembly movablesynchronously therewith and (2) a chart marking device including markidentification means. The concentric circles represent units of theevent to be recorded and the radial lines represent increments of theunits. The chart is rotated, and simultaneously the marker is movedradially relative to said circular lines in a manner such that theposition of the marker assembly relative to the chart lines establishesthe magnitude of the event.

When the events to be'recorded are levels of liquid in a tank, which isthe application described herein to illustrate the invention, theconcentric circles represent feet and the radial lines represent inchesand fractions of inches. Rotation of the chart and simultaneous move-'ment of the marker assembly in response to changes in the liquid levelWithin the tank locate the marker assembly at a point on the chart thatindicates accurately the particular liquid level in the tank in feet andinches. In addition, the instantaneous sequentially made recordings areeach identifiable one from another.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a morecomplete description of the invention when taken with the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the preferred apparatus of theinvention in operating position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the preferred apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the clock and hammer linkage of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the movable head carriage and cam sleeveof FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view taken on lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of a representative chart to be used;

FIG. 11 is a view of a chart scanner that may be used to aid inidentification of daily punctures; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a 7-day puncture pattern.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail for a more completedescription of the invention, in FIG. 1 is shown recording apparatus 10connected to a conventional ground-level gauge 11, which is supported ona lease tank 12. Gauge 11 includes a direct-drive output shaft and atape reel mechanism (not shown) and a recording tape 13 (shownprotruding from a tube 14) connected at one end to a float in tank 12and wrapped on the reel mechanism at the other end thereof for rotatingthe out- 3,181,164 Patented Apr. 27, 1965 put shaft in response tochanges of the liquid level in tank 12. The details of recorder 10 areshown in FIGS. 2-9, inclusive. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular,a housing 20 divided by a partition member 21 is provided with aremovable door 22 at its front (in FIG. 3 the door is removed) and anopening 23 at its rear through which an input drive shaft 24 extends.Exterior of housmg 20, one end of input shaft 24 is coupled to tape 13through the aforementioned output shaft and tape reel mechanism and alsoa gauge coupling member 25. A hub 28 for positioning and maintaining inplace a paper chart 37 (see FIG. 10) is mounted on the other end ofshaft 24. A positioning pin 39 is provided on hub 28 to insure properorientation of the chart. Also mounted on shaft 24 adjacent hub 28 is abevel gear 30, which meshes with a bevel gear 31 mounted on a shaft 32.A spur gear 33 is mounted on shaft 32, and it meshes with another spurgear 34 mounted on the shaft of a lead screw 36. v

In FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9, a marker assembly of carriage 41) is shown,and it includes a rotatable marker head 41 also movable toward andretractable from chart 37; a center point shaft 42 threaded into head41, as shown;

a satellite blade 45 positioned on the forward face. of

head 41; a seven-step grooved cam 44 arranged about head 41; a carriagebody 46, containing cam 44 and supporting head 41 and a marker head arm48, arranged for movement by means of screw 36 along a square torsionbar 47-the lower end of the marker head arm 48 is secured to bar 47 andthe upper end is connected to center point shaft 42 by screw head 43; acam follower pin 49 arranged on head 41 for movement within the groovesof cam 44; and a day dial 50 positioned on the rearward face of head 41.A marker pad 51 is positioned on partition 21 adjacent marker assembly40.

Now referring more particularly to FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 7, the markeractuating mechanism includes a clock 60, which operates to rotate a cam61 through a clutch 62 mounted on a shaft 63. One end 64 of a camfollower 65 pivotally mounted at rides the surface of cam 61, and theother end 66 has pivotally arranged on it a hammer link 67, the upperend of which extends through an opening 85 in one end 68 of a hammer bar69 pivotally mounted as at 87 on the other end 73 of which is fastened ahammer weight 70. An overtravel spring 71 is connected between camfollower end 66 and hammer bar end 68. Another spring 86 is connectedbetween partition 21 and end 66 of cam follower 65. A dampener spring 72restrains upward movement of end 73 of hammer bar 69. Spring 72 isreleased through the action of a second cam follower 74 pivotal at 75,one end 76 of which is urged against the surface of cam 61 by a spring77 and to the other end 78 of which is connected a damper spring releasebar 79.

A push rod 80 engages at its lower end a tappet 81, which is secured totorsion rod 47. A tappet spring 82 is arranged on tappet arm 81.

As seen in detail in FIG. 10, paper chart 37 (an outline of which isindicated in FIG. 3) has concentric circles /8 inch apart representingl-foot increments of liquid level in tank 12 from O to 16 feet andradial lines dividing the chart circles into segments representinginches and fractions of an inch of liquid level. Shaft 24 coupled to theshaft of the ground level gauge turns one revolution per one foot changeof liquid level. Through bevel gears 30-31 and spur gears 33-34 and leadscrew 36, marker assembly 40 is moved along rod 47 by rotation of shaft24. When liquids are added to the tank, chart 37 will rotatecounterclockwise and marker assembly 40 will move to the left as seen inFIG. 3 along lead screw 36 for one week, i.e., seven days.

and toward the outer edge of the chart. When liquids are removed fromthe tank, the opposite rotation of the chart and movement of the markerassembly will occur. Rotation of the chart and simultaneous movement ofthe marker assemblyresponsive to the liquid level in tank712 placescenter point shaft 42 at the point on chart 37 that indicates thatparticular level. Changes in liquid level correspondingly change thelocation of marker assembly 4-0 and shaft 42 relative to the chart sothat at all times the marker assembly is located at that point on thechart that is indicative of the liquid level in tank 12.

In FIG. 10 two examples illustrate the method of liquid levelindication. Point A is just outside the 2-foot circle and is abouthalfway between the /2-inch and 0- /1- inch lines. Therefore, point Aindicates 2 feet and O /sinch of liquid level. Blade marker A for pointA indicates the mark was made on Sunday. Point B is between the 11-footand 12-foot circles and is between the 7-inch and 7 A-inch lines, andthereby indicates a liquid level of 11 feet and 7% inches. Blade markerB for point B indicates the mark was made on Wednesday. The days referto a preferred operation, i.e., to recordrliquid levels automatically ata specified time, e.g., 7 am. each day The clock mechanism makes theserecordings and identifies each one so that one days level isdistinguishable from the next days level.

,Thus, clock 60 rotates clock shaft 63, which causes cam 61 to rotateand in turn raises the ends 64 and 76 of cam followers 65 and 74,respectively. When end 64 of cam follower 65 raises, end 68 of bar 69 ispulled downwardly by overtravel spring 71; and as a result, hammerweight 70 on the end 73 of bar 69 is raised. Cam 61 rotates acceleratedby tension spring 36. As'end 64 falls, ham

mer link 67 is driven upwardly and causes end 73 of hammer bar 69carrying weight 70 to be thrown downward against push rod .80. After camfollower 65 has stopped, hammer 70 continues its downward movementstretching overtravel spring 71 and moving until it is stopped bycompletion of the downward movement of push rod 80. Hammer 70 and end 73of bar 69 are withdrawn by the tension in overtravel spring 71. Dampenerspring 72 prevents oscillation or bouncing of hammer 70. This springlatches onto the end 73 of bar 69. It is released by the action of camfollower 74. When end 76 drops just after theend 64 of cam follower 65drops, the other end 78 pushes rod 79 against spring 72 and releases bar69 to permit cam 61 to again slowly raise weight 70 to its dropposition.

When push rod 86 is forced downwardly by the hammerblow, it pivotstappet arm 81 and turns torsion rod 47, thereby rotating marker head arm48. This action moves center point shaft 42 and satellite blade 45forward against chart 37, puncturing the chart, which is backed byrubber marking pad 51. The puncture made with center point 42 recordsthe 7 am. liquid level in tank 12, while the cut made by satellite blade45, which is arranged radially to the center point, identifies the dayof the week. Immediately following withdrawal of hammer 70, tappetspring 82 retracts tappet arm 81,

which turns bar 47, causing marker head 41 to withdraw from the chartand the center shaft point and satellite blade to recede into markerassembly 40.

Satellite blade 45ris positioned angularly about the center point 42 bythe guide surfaces provided in cam 44 for cam follower pin 49. Each timemarker head 31 is actuated by hammer weight 70, cam 44 causes satelliteblade 45 to advance revolution (one day) about the center point.Thereby, each day of the week is distingnished by the particular angularposition of itsmark. Gn day dial 56 is marked M, T, W, T, F, S, S, asseen in FIG. 3, which indicates the days-of the week. After each 7 am.recording is made, the day that was recorded is at the top of the daydial. Day dial 50 can be reset manually by pressing and releasingmarking head 41l;to

cause the desired day to be indicated. This, of course,

properly positions satellite blade 45 as well.

In FIG. 11 a transparent plastic scanner that buttons on the center ofthe chart may be used to aid in identifying the daysindicated bythesatellite cuts. The scanner has a separate group of parallel linesfor each day,

sloped as the satellite cut for that day is sloped. As

in a container which liquid level is capable of varying in a nonuniformmanner comprising rotating a chart provided with concentric circularlines representing the depth of said liquid in feed and radiallyextending lines dividing V the chart into segments representing inchesand fractions of inches and simultaneously moving a chart markerradially across the face of said chartand thereby radially relative tosaid circular lines in common response to variations in said liquidlevel in a manner such that the position of the chart marker relative tothe circular and radial lines on said chart establishes the depth infeet and inches of said liquid and making each recorded readingautomatically, individually identifiable relative to the time it ismade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 819,618 5/06Teal 346-137 868,055 10/07 Wolfe 346- 113 876,854 1/08 Wood 346124926,763 7/09 Phillips. 999,412 8/11 Speer 346121 1,23 1,3 50 6/17Herrmann 346102 1,422,477 7/22 Pullman 346-81 1,922,3 62 8/33 Halversen346-72 1,954,955 4/34 Siebers 346-10 3,072,908 1/63 Parrish 34645LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner. EMIL G. ANDERSON, LEO SMILOW,Examiners.

